Rotary switch



Jul 26, 1927. 1,637,038

C. DE REAMER ROTARY SWITCH Filed Nov. 350, 1925 Inventor": Frank (1.139Reamer:

His Attorney Patented July 26, 1927.

it r 1,637,038

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. DE REAMEB, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR [YO-GENERALELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A CORFORA'IION OF NEW YORK.

ROTARY SWITCH.

Application filed November The present invention relates to electriccurrent control and more especially to rotary snap switches.

The object of my invention is the provision o'lf' an improved rotarysnap switch composed of few parts, which may be 1nanu factured at lowcost and which may be readily mounted in electric fixtures and similardevices.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Fig. l. is an axial section of a complete switch; Fig. 2 is asection on line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the upper end of the base andterminal connections of the line wires Fig. is a-perspec'tive view ofthe central diaphragm; Fig. 4 is a similar View of the inovable polepiece; Fig. 5 is a similar view of a combined stationary contact andline terminal; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the switch with the partsshown in perspective, and Fig. 7 a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showinglower end of the base and movable pole piece.

The base 1 is oil insulating material and in the form of a cylindricalring with two shallow quadrant recesses 2 in its periphery, while thewalls of the central chamber have four ratchet-shaped notches orrecesses 3 extending from the lower end to a radial shoulder 4t locatedabout midway of its length, and extending from the upper end are twoarcuate notches 5 which extend at one end across the end wall of thebasefor the entrance of the line wires, as indicateifl in Figs. 1 and Theline wires have their terminals soldered to bent over ends 6 of T-shapedsheet metal contacts 7, as shown in Fig. 5, curved to fit in oppositeratchet recesses 3 and are detachably retained in place therein solelyby a disk or diaphragm 8 of sheet insula tion, as shown in Fig. 1, withits periphery shaped, as shown in Fig. 8, to correspond with the tourratchet recesses 3 in the base and dimensioned to press the contacts 7radially outward into firm engagement with the walls of their respectiveratchet notches.

The movable pole piece, as shown in Fig. 4, consists of a rectangularblock 9 of insulation with two spring contacts 10 oil C orinvolute-shaped strips of phosphor bronze secured to opposite sides ofthe block 9 near its upper end by a rivet 11. The width of 30, 1925.Serial No. 72,123.

the contacts 10 corresponds with the depth of the base below thediaphragm 8. Two washers 12 and 13 of sheet insulation corres pondingto'the exterior diameter of the base at the recesses 2 are placed overits respective ends and bound in place by an enclosing metal shelllat.The washers serve both to insulatively enclose and retain in place theterminal contacts 7 and the movable pole piece, while the latter servesto retain the diaphragm 8 in place.

, The metal shell 1s consists of a central washer 15 with twocylindrical quadrants 16 extending upwardly from the periphery andadapted to fit in the quadrant recesses 2 of the base and at their upperends are pairs of lugs 17 adapted to be clinched over the upper,insulating washer 12, as shown in Fig. l. The shell 1% has attached atits center a depending metal hub 18 provided with an external thread 19and internally with a bore 20 countersunk at its upper portion. Theportions of the base between the quadrants 2 are left exposed betweenthe cylindrical quadrants of the cover in order that the line wires maycome into contact with insulation only as they pass to the detachablecontacts 7.

A key or actuating shaft 21 is journaled.

in the bore 20 of the hub 18 and has an enarged head 22 corresponding tothe bore countersink and provided with a transverse slot to receiveloosely the lower end of the pole piece block 9 whereby the two partsare coupled together rotarily. The lower end 2 1 of the shaft 21 reducedin diameter and threaded tor the reception of a thumb piece The switchis adapted for installation in a fixture canopy, as indicated in dottedlines 26 Fig. 1, by passing the threaded hub 18 outwardly through asuitable hole in the canopy and turning home a nut 27 on the shank tofirmly clamp the wall of the canopy between it and the central portion15 of the shell 14.

On account of the freedom of the movable pole piece to float from sideto side between the diaphragm 8 and the lower washer 13, its contactarms 10 bear uniformly upon the stationary contacts 7 and thereby insuregood electrical contact throughout the life thereof. It is also to beobserved that the several parts of the switch are adapted to bellsSGl1lperiphery Q I p r 1,637,038

bled and secured in operative relation practically without theemployment of tools or 1 's. lVhile I have shown and described the bestembodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to berestricted thereto.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating base with a centralchamber having ratchet notches in the inner wall thereof,

contacts to bind them against the walls of stationary contactsdetachably seated in alternate notches, a movable pole piece adaptedtoengage said stationary contacts, and an insulating disk disposed insaid chamber transversely thereof and pressing radially outward at itsperiphery against the said stationary contacts to bind them in placeagainst the walls of their respective notches. 2. An electric switchcomprising an insulating base with a central chamber extendingtherethrough and provided with ratchet notches in the inner wall thereofadjacent one end, combined line terminals and stationary contactsdetachably seated in certain of said'notches, a rotary pole pieceadapted to engage said contacts, and an insulating disk disposed in saidchamber transversely thereof and engaging at its periphery with saidcombined line terminals and stationary said notches. r

3. An electric switch comprising an insulating base having a chamberextending therethrough with ratchet notches in its inner wall adjacentone end of the base and with line wire grooves adjacent the other end,combined line terminals and'stationar'y contacts detachably located incertain of said ratchet notches and extended into said grooves, a rotarypole piece adapted to engage said stationary contacts, and an insulatingdisk located transversely of said chamber and serving as the solemeansto retain said'contacts in said notches and to divide the chamberinto line terminal and contact compartments. I

4. An electric switch comprising a ringshaped base with two quadrantrecesses in the periphery thereof, line terminals, stationary contactsand a rotary pole piece mounted within said base, insulating disksenclosing opposite ends of said base, and a metal shell comprising acentral washer adapted to rest againstone of said disks with twocylindrical quadrants extending from opposite peripheral edges thereofthrough the peripheral recesses of said base and having their free endsbent over the other of said insulating disks.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day ofNovember, 1925.

FRANK C. DE REAMER.

